Keep Moving

Albert Einstein once said "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving. "

The Christian life is much the same. You can't get lulled into a period of doing nothing. You must keep moving in your faith.

Colossians 2:6 "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

In order to continue to live in Him, we have to continue to get to know Him. We can't do that in a vacuum. Every Christian needs time in the word, in prayer, and in fellowship with other Christians.

I have two challenges for you (and myself) this Christmas.

1. Reread the Christmas story and read it slowly. Think about it; meditate on it. Perhaps read it from a different translation so that it forces you to slow down and think your way through it. Really think through who Jesus is and what He means to you.

2. If you want to receive a blessing this Christmas, then seek to be a blessing in someone else's life. It amazes me how God blesses me when I reach out to others.

Have a restful, Christ-filled holiday and I'll be back in January.

Being and Becoming

I found this written in an old journal. I can't remember if this is an original writing or if it came from something I was reading at the time. It still sounds good though.

Is doing more important to you than being?
Is what you are acquiring more important to you than what you are becoming?
Is your job more important to you than relationships?
Are things more important to you than people or people's needs?
Do you think busyness, speed, and efficiency rank near the top of the list of virtues?

Think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8)

Don't be so concerned with doing as being.
And not so concerned with being as becoming.
Becoming like Christ.

Solid Rock

My thoughts are kind of jumbled this morning. Do you ever have mornings like that? I haven't been feeling well for a couple of weeks and this morning my mind is in a fog.

When fighting to focus, sometimes I think about some of the great songs of our faith. This morning I find these going through my head:

"Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed;
Finding as He promised, perfect peace and rest."

and...

"When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand."

Psalm 40:2 "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."

Times change.
Things change.
People change.
BUT God never changes.

Malachi 3:6 "I, the Lord, do not change."

Revelations 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end," says the Lord, "who is, and who was,and who is to come,the Almighty."

God doesn't change with the seasons.
He is steadfast and secure, solid, like a rock.

Help me to trust in your unchanging grace and your eternal love.

Rest

I am looking forward to Christmas for a time of rest and renewal. I am lucky because I get two weeks off from work. The first week will be very busy with Christmas and family and parties. The second week is actually my favorite. A time to rest. No schedule. No appointments. A time to look at the priorities in my life and make sure they are what I want them to be.

Ps 62:5 "Find rest, o my soul, in God alone."
I John 3:19 "We set our hearts at rest in His presence."
Ps 91:1 "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

The verse I have the most trouble with is Ps 46:10. "Be still, and know that I am God.” It is so hard for me to be still. I have so many things to do – and they all seem important. Yet my most important thing should be my relationship with Jesus. Rest and refocus. That brings me to my favorite verse of scripture, Hebrews 12:2, “Fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”

I challenge you to find the time to “rest” this Christmas season. Fix your eyes on the Savior. Allow Him to give you His peace and rest.

The Presence of God

Attention to God is not just a lot of time every day, but all day long, every day. His presence is to permeate everything -- every action, every word, every thought. If you have accepted Christ into your life then your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and God lives in and through you. Your very presence in a room is the presence of God. Can others see that in me? Do I allow others to see that in me? Am I glad that the living God is with me 24/7?

Grasp the Love of God

Ps 107:43 "Whoever is wise, let him .... consider the great love of the Lord."

Eph 3:18 - 19 "Grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowlege."

His love surrounds me.
His love supports me.
His love gets me through the day.
His love gets me through the night.
I am led day by day because of His love.
I make it through each day because of His love.

Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us. (I John 3:1)
Behold it -- Look at it -- Study it -- Think about it
Observe it -- Watch it -- Mull over -- Consider it
Reflect on it -- Ponder it

Spend time just contemplating the love that God has for you.

Ps 119:76 "May his unfailing love be your comfort."